Manchester United thread

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LukasTheGreat

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Form might be over stating it because we have been horrible to watch. Even our win over Arsenal was boring to watch
Results are all that matters though, we haven't played 'Good Football' since 08 really, we've just been getting the job done. The last two years in particular we've struggled to create consistent chances at all.
 

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azza77

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i think the biggest thing that is killing us is our wide play. These days we are generating sweet **** all from the wings, when for so long under Fergie its been been the primary form of attack, whether it was bringing the ball wide and looking to cut inside, or making sure the wingers were hugging the touchline as to really stretch the oppositions defense and make more room for the likes of Rooney.

-Valencia is a on trick pony. He has some good games but lets be honest, the bloke is USELESS. Has pace and can defend somewhat, but he has 0 tricks to skill defenders, has no weak foot, is a shocking finisher and is crossing is inconsistent as ****!
- Ashley Ashley Ashley......what happened to him. Was a GUN at aston villa and I was dead set stoked when we first signed him, had a great first season despite injuries. Forget about the rest, hes been absolute garbage since then. Has lost all confidence playing ability and is another who cannot cross for peanuts.
- Nani, used to be one of my favourites at the club and boy does this guy have talent. One of, if not the best two footed players in the prem, has the pace, has the attacking mindset, has the skills, but can just never make it stick. Puts in a blinder and then 5 shockers.

Our team cannot continue to carry blokes like this anymore. Under Fergie maybe, but atm we need 11 contributors and our wingers may as well be pretty much playing for the opposition. We SERIOUSLY need to bring in a Reus or Di Maria type. Someone with actual talent who are ACTUALLY capable of being good at crossing/finishing/passing at once. All 3 of Young, Nani and Valenica need to go I think and we need to start fresh, its just not working for them and they are not top 4 quality.

In terms of our midfield, I have more faith in them coming good. Carrick out hurts. Cleverly seemed to have taken a big step forward after last year and now hes taken to gigantic steps backwardso_O hes really struggling.
Fellaini in the first half against Everton started to really knock the ball around nicely and work into space and I was impressed, thinking he might be finally starting to turn the corner. He then came back out in the 2nd half and shat himself. A 6ft4 giant being too scared to receive the ball and get involved when his team needed him....go figure. I have faith in Fellaini because I know he has bags of talent, we have all seen what hes capable of. It just appears to me hes come to united and expected it all to fall into place. He seriously needs to start working hard and show that he at least wants to be at the club and part of the team.
Dont even ask about Kagawa, no idea what to do with that lad. We have so many players in the same boat where they certainly have the talent, but their on field performances are seriously short of where they should be at. Cant decide if we'd be better off persevering with him or giving in and sending him back to BVB. Im more inclined to sell him and let Moyes bring in his own men and create his own midfield the way he sees fit.
The only positives at this stage are Janizaj and Nicky Powell. Im constantly frothing at those 2 already:D



Also not too happy about fellow supporters slagging Moyes and the club already. Sure, we're in a shocking position and things a really not going our way (for once). But something similar to this was always going to happen. Maybe not as bad, but to expect Moyes to come in and win from day one was extremely far fetched. The players, barring Rooney and a few others, lack of desire and willingness to put in the hard yards and work for him also doesnt help at all.

Moyes definitely needs to re-vamp the squad a bit in January and over the summer transfer period, there's no denying that.

Moyes also needs time. If Liverpool fans can put up with the shit they copped after their first season working under Rodgers then so can we. Look at the results Liverpool are reaping now. He's been handed THE toughest job in the world, not to mention bringing a whole new host of backroom staff to build up the club into the mold he sees fit.

Give Moyes these 2 things and then judge him on his performances in the 14/15. It's way too early still to do anything rash. We are United ffs, not Chelsea, not City. Fergie obviously chose this bloke for a reason so lets give him more than a handful of games to see what he's really capable of.
 

azza77

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Players who need to take a serious look at themselves and/or who you could look at dumping:
Valencia
Young
Nani
Welbeck
Evra
Ferdinand
JONES
Cleverly
Anderson
Fellaini
Buttner
Sorry what:rolleyes:

Jones so far has been one of the shining lights and is seriously talented kid. Is going to be an absolute beast for this club and wouldn't be surprised to see him wearing the captains armband one day.

Jones and a Smalling that is finally injury free and getting a decent run of games are coming along nicely this season, despite everything else.
 

azza77

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Ohh another thing, we SERIOUSLY need to add some full backs to the squad. If we are going to attempt to climb back up the ladder then I wouldnt be opposed to bringing in 2 wide defenders, such as a ready made gun in Baines and then another younger talent.

Evra is so ridiculously past it and is extremely average defensive wise. Still provides quite a lot offensively surprisingly, but his defense is as leaky as ive seen. Rafael is a gun but seems quite injury prone. Smalling has been serviceable out wide but id rather play a proper full back. Moyes doesnt seem to want to use Fabio either and im not sure whyo_O Butters is similar to Evra, decent going forward but garbage defensive wise. Lucky to even be considered depth.

Not sure that Baines is the answer being 28 year old.... I guess since he's such a smart football and and technically gifted he doesnt need to rely on his pace all that much to be oen of the best in his position, meaning that he could probably play for another 5 or so years. Regardless I'd still be happy to grab him.

Was actually stoked with us bringing in Coentrao and then that fell through...:( If we do bring in Baines, then I would like to see us bring in another younger talent that would be capable of stepping up to the big stage if we copped an injury or 2.
 

LukasTheGreat

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Sorry what:rolleyes:

Jones so far has been one of the shining lights and is seriously talented kid. Is going to be an absolute beast for this club and wouldn't be surprised to see him wearing the captains armband one day.

Jones and a Smalling that is finally injury free and getting a decent run of games are coming along nicely this season, despite everything else.
Jones appears to be the next Carrick, our whipping boy. I've always been a fan of Jones.
 

LukasTheGreat

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This'll is pretty unpopular opinion right now, but it wouldn't be disastrous if he goes. Obviously it'll be best if he stays but him leaving would allow Rooney to be the main man upfront as well as Kagawa constant match time. Not to mention our strikers(not that we have any decent ones) are having their progress stalled by having the best striker in the world taking their spot.

But in saying that I'd be devo if he leaves, and he won't.
 

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azza77

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This'll is pretty unpopular opinion right now, but it wouldn't be disastrous if he goes. Obviously it'll be best if he stays but him leaving would allow Rooney to be the main man upfront as well as Kagawa constant match time. Not to mention our strikers(not that we have any decent ones) are having their progress stalled by having the best striker in the world taking their spot.

But in saying that I'd be devo if he leaves, and he won't.
Exactly what i was going to post. Wouldn't be disastrous if he goes as Rooney returns to the position where he forged his career and kagawa plays in his preferred role.

Splash some of that money on a CM
 

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Moyes was sighted at the Porto v Athelctico madrid game and I think he was scouting a player called Jorge Resurrección Merodio aka Koke who is a Mid and he also has a release clause of 24 million euros.

He would be a great signing for us.
 

pantskyle

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Moyes was sighted at the Porto v Athelctico madrid game and I think he was scouting a player called Jorge Resurrección Merodio aka Koke who is a Mid and he also has a release clause of 24 million euros.

He would be a great signing for us.
He would be a great signing for anyone.
 

A Bit High

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Interesting Article I found on ESPN Soccernet -

After another defeat left Manchester United stagnating in mid-table at the weekend, David Moyes was once again a target for criticism as he continues to struggle to get the best out of a group of players that won the Premier League title last season.

There is, however, only so much that Moyes can do sitting in the Old Trafford hotseat. His players must shoulder some of the blame and it is clear that among the unquestionable talent at the club, there is also plenty of deadwood.

Reports on Monday suggested Moyes could be ready to wield the axe, so who would escape with their United careers intact and who would be moved on to pastures new?

DAVID DE GEA

One of the best young keepers in Europe, talk that Sir Alex Ferguson was thinking of ditching the Spaniard not long after buying him looks even sillier now than it did at the time.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

ANDERS LINDEGAARD

A capable enough back-up. Peter Schmeichel he ain't, but United fans have little cause to feel overly-nervous when De Gea is indisposed.

GettyImagesRafael and Fabio: The twins weren't separated at birth, but they should be now.


VERDICT: Keep him (Not Fussed)

RAFAEL

The only really bad thing about Rafael is that David Moyes seems to have a slightly troubling mistrust of him. Niggling injuries have been a problem this season, but even when fit he isn't always the automatic first choice he should be.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

FABIO

Failing to make a significant impact at QPR suggests a player is not of the required standard for Manchester United. The only reason to keep him around is if they need a spare for Rafael in team photographs.

VERDICT: Let him go (Keep we dont know enough yet)

PATRICE EVRA

Tricky one. There is talk that Monaco and PSG are queueing up to throw huge bags of cash at Evra when his contract expires in the summer, so the decision may be taken from United. However, if it is Moyes' call, it probably depends on which left-back he signs in January/next summer. If it's Leighton Baines, he will clearly be a direct replacement for the Frenchman, but at only four years his junior, perhaps isn't the best long-term option. A better choice might be to go big for Luke Shaw (who won't be cheap, but he'll be worth it) and keep Evra around on a year-to-year deal to guide the youngster through.

VERDICT: Keep him (Borderline, his display last game was a disgrace.....time to go)

ALEXANDER BUTTNER

No. Just... no. His ineptitude is somehow enhanced by his puppy-like enthusiasm for running around, but while that might be entertaining for the rest of us, it isn't especially good for United.

VERDICT: Let him go (Agree)

CHRIS SMALLING

Worth keeping, but there is a vague sense that given the rate of his development so far, Smalling's career might be one of the bigger disappointments in English football of recent years, given his initial promise and reputation.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree - Only if we play him CB)

RIO FERDINAND

Alas, it's time. Time is cruel, and it (along with other assorted factors) has taken his England career, and the day has come for it to claim his place at United too.

VERDICT: Let him go (Agree, had him sold 3-4 seasons ago)

JONNY EVANS

It's weird that a few years ago Evans looked nailed on for that move to Sunderland, but it now seems he might be one of the more unlikely United lifers of recent years.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

GettyImagesIt has been suggested Nemanja Vidic could move on, but he remains an influential presence for Man Utd.

NEMANJA VIDIC

There must be a temptation to cut the 32-year-old Vidic loose in order to give the younger bucks in the United defence precedence, but his performances are still good enough, and such a move could be too hasty.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

PHIL JONES

While there should be no question about whether United should keep Jones, there is about where he will play. At present he is probably their best option in midfield (or at least in a certain midfield role), but he is a natural centre-back and will probably eventually settle there

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

TOM CLEVERLEY

Simply not good enough. Whether that's entirely his fault given the roles he has sometimes been asked to play is probably moot, but Cleverley has seemingly become so cowed that he seems terrified of playing a forward pass.

VERDICT: Let him go (Agree)

MICHAEL CARRICK

While he can still be a divisive figure among United fans, Carrick is obviously not a bad player, he just probably isn't good enough for United to build their midfield around. He should be kept, but not as a first-choice.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree, I had him sold a few years back and that would have been a terrible call)

RYAN GIGGS

It's not especially practical to say whether United should get rid of Giggs or not, because his status is such that it will be his decision. However, he's worth keeping around in his role as a player-coach, just as long as the team doesn't rely on his presence.

VERDICT: Keep him (But dont play him...please!!)

DARREN FLETCHER

Who knows? Few are really sure if he will ever actually return from his gastric condition, but even if he does, will he be the same player? Unfortunately the answer is no, and sentiment should be set aside in favour of practicality.

VERDICT: Let him go (Sadly Agree)
GettyImagesAshley Young, Tom Cleverley and Anderson have done little to suggest they deserve to survive an Old Trafford cull.


ANDERSON

No. No. No. No. No. Absolutely not. Overweight, unreliable, consistently disappointing because of the occasional moments when he shows why Sir Alex Ferguson spent so much money on him. If Anderson was going to prove himself worthy of a place in the United side, he would've done it by now.

VERDICT: Let him go (Not before time)

MAROUANE FELLAINI

Much like Moyes, Fellaini has been quickly judged on his first few months in a United shirt, but one suspects he will eventually become a useful signing for them. If only they would buy someone a little more creative to play with him.

VERDICT: Keep him (Sort of have to dont we)

ASHLEY YOUNG

The unfortunate combination of being both not good enough, and an occasional embarrassment to the club with his diving. It says plenty that he was publicly criticised by his manager for such simulation, then did it again a few weeks later.

VERDICT: Let him go. (Yuck Feck him off the diving, cheating twat...horrible)

ADNAN JANUZAJ

Albeit from relatively scant early evidence, Januzaj would appear to be the future of United. Currently a winger, most seem to think that he will end up in the middle, and the team will be built around him.

VERDICT: Keep him (Gun)

SHINJI KAGAWA

A cause celebre for many United fans, Kagawa has thus far failed to show his undoubted talent. United have better options in his favoured No. 10 role both now (Wayne Rooney) and in the future (Januzaj), so it might be a prudent idea to sell Kagawa now while his value is still high. He may eventually end up as the great 'What could have been?', but he hasn't shown much evidence so far that he's worth the trouble.

VERDICT: Let him go (Best for him, but i dont mind him as a player - Keep)

ANTONIO VALENCIA

While he has shown a few more glimpses of his best form recently, he too often looks like a 'trier', an ordinary player who will put in a solid shift. Alas, United need more than that.

VERDICT: Let him go (Agree, one trick pony, get the ball and run to the corner flag)

NANI

If you believed the gossip pages, United have been on the verge of selling Nani for about the last four years. It's understandable, given how frustrating he can be, but when used properly (i.e. on the right) he can still be hugely effective. Worth keeping.

VERDICT: Keep him (Nope piss him off, shits me with his inconsistency, promised to replace CR7 and would not carry his football boots)

WILFRIED ZAHA

That he was finally given a chance in a competitive game against Newcastle shows that Moyes a) is desperate or b) has recognised Zaha's promise. Whichever, he is quick, raw and very direct, and of course should be persisted with.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

GettyImagesThe futures of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez are far from certain.
WAYNE ROONEY

Now we have a quandary. Really, if United were going to sell him, they should have done it in the last transfer window, when he was two years away from being a free agent, and thus more valuable. If he is sold next summer with only a year left, they will get a relative pittance. Of course when on form Rooney is a brilliant player, but that form could disappear in an instant, and that's before we consider the 'baggage' he has, as well as fitness issues and the knowledge that another transfer request could be just around the corner. Could well be more trouble than he's worth.

VERDICT: On the brink (I would have ditched him a few years back when he had his first grizzle but we would be more crap without him - Keep)

ROBIN VAN PERSIE

He may only have one or two seasons at the very top left, but those seasons are worth having. Of course, he should be kept.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)

DANNY WELBECK

What's perhaps more important than Welbeck's ability to play a number of roles and be deployed as a forward workhorse, is that he is perfectly willing and indeed eager to do those things. A genuine team player, he's very much worth keeping around.

VERDICT: Keep him (Disagree - the kid cant score and has the first touch of an elephant)

JAVIER HERNANDEZ

Again, if he's happy to be a first reserve, Hernandez is handy to have. As long as he's happy, keep him, but if he agitates for a move and someone is willing to pay well for, then that's a different matter.

VERDICT: Keep him (Agree)
 

moomba

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Interesting. I wonder what you think about the formation. Moyes seems to have carried on playing 442, which admittedly has served United well in the past. But is it outdated?

We play a bastardised 442, and it is hit and miss even with Yaya and Fernandinho as the central midfield 2.

Does United need a change of formation as well as a turnover of players?
 
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Best game I've seen us play in god knows how long. Rooney and Giggs controlling the centre and Valencia cutting them up wide. Wellbeck playing well too (surprisingly)


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SuperCats9

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Read an article before where Moyes said we were "very close" to making a major signing in the summer transfer window, said it would've made big headlines.

Wonder who it was, surely not ronaldo or bale. My guess would be Fabregas but I don't think he was ever close to joining.
 

SuperCats9

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Ronaldo was never coming back and Bale only ever wanted RM, so I can't see why Moyes would say "we were close".

Hopefully we land some good players in January & the summer window, we desperately need some new faces.
 
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